A handful of sci-fi movies' influence on the genre can always be seenwhen some imagery or plot point originating with one of them turns up in practically every new movie of the same genre. Such sci-fi titles are likely to be counted among thebest movies of all timewhen their widespread influence is the result of stellar filmmaking. They inspire new movies, which in turn inspire even more movies, extending their legacy for decades.
Themost important sci-fi moviesinclude staples likeStar WarsandThe Matrix, which gave rise not just to recognizable visuals in the genre, but also specific tropes and modes of storytelling. Sci-fi movies are also likely to claim thebiggest breakthroughs in special effects technology, given the nature of the genre.Die-hard sci-fi fans have enjoyed some breathtaking movies over a century of cinema,as well as seeing the enduring legacy of these movies take shape.
10A Trip To The Moon (1902)
Georges Méliès' Space Adventure That Gave Rise To The Sci-Fi Genre
Colliderclaims:“Without this silent short, we probably wouldn’t have sci-fi films.“Georges Méliès was a visionary filmmaker who relied on a repertoire of illusionary and sleight-of-hand tricksto bring his imaginative worlds to life.Le Voyage Dans La Luneremains his most famous movie. The very notion of humans leaving Earth as the premise for the story took off, still seen in space adventure movies today, with tones ranging from the novelty of2001: A Space Odysseyto the hopefulness ofInterstellarto the horror ofAlien.
A Trip to the Moon
Cast
A Trip to the Moon, directed by Georges Méliès, is a groundbreaking 1902 silent film that follows a group of astronomers who journey to the moon in a spaceship and explore its surface. The film is notable for its innovative special effects and imaginative storytelling, marking a significant milestone in early cinema history.
10 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time, Ranked
Sci-fi is one of Hollywood’s biggest markets, and these films are the best of what the genre has to offer, from space operas to family adventures.
Even if a specific sci-fi filmmaker did not revisitA Trip to the Moonbefore making their movie, they probably watched something that was directly inspired by it.Méliès' cutting techniques were also important to the genre,but perhaps not so much as the idea that humans could plausibly reach a planet inhabited by whimsical alien life. Essentially, every movie that depicts a fantastical alien species within traveling distance of Earth can be traced back toA Trip to the Moon, exemplary of Méliès' boundless imagination.
9Metropolis (1927)
Metropolis Is Arguably The Original Evil Robot Movie
Today,AI-turned-evil movies are widespread, including milestone titles like2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator, The Matrix, andEx Machina,although depictions of AI are gradually becoming more nuanced than straightforward cautionary tales.Metropolis’visual take on a supposedly utopian city is also commonly paid homage to in new depictions of harsh metropolitan settings. TheBatmanmovies directed by Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan are clear examples of this, drawing uponMetropolisto showcase the skewed power balance in Gotham City (viaFar Out).
The central plot element of the relationship between man and machine is everywhere.
The central plot element of the relationship between man and machine is everywhere. Additionally,C-3PO’s design inStar Warsis none-too-subtly a reference to the Maschinenmensch,whose sleek frame may be seen in more toned-down versions elsewhere in cinema. Arguably, it is the inspiration for the automaton’s design inHugo, a book and movie that celebrates Méliès' career. This would create a circular effect, as Méliès certainly inspiredMetropolis, whileHugothen paid homage to it.
82001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey Was The Beginning Of The Modern Sci-Fi Genre
It borders on cliché for a sci-fi director to say they were inspired by2001: A Space Odyssey,while references to the movie turn up in all genres. Outside the sci-fi genre, this is likely to be played as a joke; the memorable, iconic theme is commonly used to signal the evolution of something greater, most recently in Greta Gerwig’sBarbie. The evil autopilot robot inWALL-Edemonstrates how HAL’s design and characteristics may either be subtly or very obviously repurposed.
2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most well-known films. A science-fiction epic, the film tells the story of the journey of Discovery One, a spacecraft operated by a group of scientists, astronauts, and a sentient computer, on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious monolith. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Kubrick combines sparse dialogue with the heavy use of scoring and ambiguous imagery to create something that eschews conventional filmmaking.
All sci-fi movies, to some degree, try to capture the feeling of awe that2001: A Space Odysseyonce inspired.Stanley Kubrick again launched forward special effects technology,yet he still relied on models and massive sets in the pre-CGI era. Some filmmakers still revert to this technique with spectacular results, such as some of the action sequences inInception. However, mostmovies inspired by2001: A Space Odysseyexhibit the same visual cues of a spaceship setting that will never go away.
7Star Wars (1977)
Star Wars Changed The Sci-Fi Genre With Tales Of Classic Heroes In Space
Star Warsobviously draws uponMetropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey, andStar Trek, but popularized the hero’s journey narrative like never before.Star Warsrevitalized the sci-fi genre in Hollywood with its widely appealing plot and characters,better than any movie that came before it. Titles likeA Trip to the Moon, Metropolis, and2001: A Space Odysseyare too philosophical or too dated in composition to draw in the audience that an action blockbuster likeStar Warscould.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Star Wars is a seminal science fiction film released in 1977 that follows the quest of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo to rescue Princess Leia from the oppressive Imperial forces. They are aided by the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, as they strive to restore peace to the galaxy.
George Lucas also relied on practical tricks, like models of various machinery, butStar Warswas the beginning of sci-fi’s reliance on CGI.Great movies inspired byStar Warsare everywhere, showcasing moments both seriously and jokingly inspired by Luke, Han, and Leia’s original adventure. In summation,Star Warschanged Hollywood forever because of a perfect combination of a highly enjoyable story, sci-fi homages, and original visuals,making everyone want to get away with copying it.
6Alien (1979)
Alien Heralded A New Era Of Horror Meets Aliens
Alienhas some similar undertones to2001: A Space Odyssey, regarding its emphasis on just how big and mysterious space is. However,Alien’s biggest contribution to cinema is its perfectly crafted, claustrophobic horror movie scenario set in space,as well as Sigourney Weaver’s genre-defining performance.Movies inspired by 1979’sAlientend toward themes of the fear of the unknown, with the alien species more distant than in some other movies where they are given more characterization.
Alien
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
Aliengave rise to a series of space-themed breaches and outbreaks,as well as a darker spaceship aesthetic than2001: A Space OdysseyandStar Wars’typically less cramped, more whitewashed corridors. Encountering extra-terrestrial life is the ultimate dream of the sci-fi genre, one which many movies have jumped at, no matter how implausible it may be in real life. WhatAlienemphasizes is the potential danger of this situation, as well as themes of ingenuity and being the last person standing.
5Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner Revamped Technology Discourses & Sci-Fi Visuals
WhileStar WarsandAlienmay have given sci-fi more classic heroes to root for in the context of standard action and horror adventures,Blade Runnerbrought the genre back to its deeply philosophical origins.This inspired movies likeThe Terminator, Soldier, andGhost in the Shell, as well as shows likeWestworldandRaised by Wolves. Movies likeGataccaspecifically delve into the implications of artificial humans, while those along the lines ofDark Cityborrow plot elements like malevolent authority and false memories.
Blade Runner
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them - but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
10 Best Legacy Movie Sequels Of All Time, Ranked
Creed, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mad Max: Fury Road, and other movies can be counted among the best legacy sequels of all time.
Chris O’Falt also discusses (viaSlashFilm) the impact ofBlade Runner’s unique aesthetic, giving rise to cyberpunk,“The popular science fiction sub-genre juxtaposes a technologically-advanced future with the breakdown of social order.“Nowhere is the influence of this seen more than inThe Matrix, although the Wachowskis' setting differs from the recognizable neon world ofBlade Runner.Blade Runneris strangely dream-like yet resonant,an effect movies going forward would attempt to mimic.
4E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. & Elliot’s Hopeful Friendship Changed The Alien Genre Once Again
The surprisingE.T. Easter Egg inStar Wars: The Phantom Menaceis fitting whenE.T. the Extra-TerrestrialandStar Warsare both more lighthearted additions to the sci-fi genre, which influenced other movies with their hopefulness.E.T.has also been mockingly referenced by other movies,but its heartfelt storyline of the friendship between the stranded alien and human children is what really provokes emotions. Amazingly, Steven Spielberg created an atmosphere where E.T. is terrifying at first, making the development of the friendship more impactful when it is the result of overcoming misconceptions.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows a young boy named Elliot who befriends an alien accidentally left on Earth. As the task force searches for the extraterrestrial, Elliot, his siblings, and their newfound friend form a deep connection while attempting to return the visitor home.
The sci-fi genre had some fun afterE.T.with plenty more friendly aliens and ragtag bands of kids,often leaning into themes of the cost of science when these newcomers are persecuted when they come to Earth and how children have the most honest, accepting perspective.Great movies inspired byE.T.include cuddly creatures like Gizmo but also feature the strangeness of the aliens inNopeandArrival.E.T.blends space horror with compassion for another, unfamiliar living thing, introducing a new take on how sci-fi approaches the unknown.
3The Terminator (1984)
The Terminator Popularized Time Travel & A New Version Of Killer Robots
The combined influence ofThe Terminator’s release meant the advent of time travel and a different kind of robotics in sci-fi movies and TV.RoboCopandCyborgcame out shortly afterThe Terminator,twisting the first movie’s story of human-appearing robots, technological dangers, and a specific character needing to be protected. Meanwhile, the lines"Come with me if you want to live"and"I’ll be back"proliferated in pop culture, as well as other visual and verbal references toThe Terminatorand its sequels.
The Terminator
The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and released in 1984, features a cyborg assassin sent back in time to eliminate Sarah Connor, the mother of a future resistance leader. As the relentless machine pursues its mission, a human warrior is sent to protect her and secure humanity’s survival.
Another effect ofThe Terminatorcontained within sci-fi and fantasy is the modality of time travel where the future cannot be changed.Movies includingInterstellar, Tenet, andHarry Potter and the Prisoner Azkabantake afterThe Terminatorin depicting time travel as a closed loop,where no version of the timeline where the time-traveler is not present ever exists. TheTerminatorfranchise gradually moved away from this logic, but none of its installments have had the same impact as the first two.
2Akira (1988)
Akira Is The Key Movie In The History Of Sci-Fi & Animation
While the two things seem like a perfect match, sci-fi told through animation took a very long time to reach Hollywood, and even more time to reach the heights of epic animated events like the plannedSpider-Versetrilogy today.Anime movies and series likeCowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, andNeon Genesis Evangelionwere obviously inspired byAkira,but its influence is present elsewhere.Akira’s setting is visually similar to that ofBlade Runner, contributing to its proliferation;Collideralso highlights the many times movies and TV shows copied the"Akira slide.”
Akira laid the groundwork for other sci-fi anime to become beloved properties worldwide.
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.
Akiralaid the groundwork for other sci-fi anime to become beloved properties worldwide.Akirais credited as an inspiration for movies such asThe MatrixandStranger Things,combined with the influence ofBlade Runnerand2001: A Space Odyssey(viaCBR). However,Akiratruly changed the sci-fi genre by pushing the boundaries of animation, becoming more successful than anyone would have thought it could be.
1The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix Solidified Cyberpunk & Created Many Choreography Tropes
The Matrixspawned countless"red or blue"choices in movies and TV (another sci-fi reference made byBarbie) and similarly styled action sequences of people suspended in midair. It renewed the"chosen one"storyline for sci-fi, getting very complicated about it and never totally answering the question of what being"the One"really means.The Matrixalso gave cyberpunk one last push with its own green-tinted version of the precedent set byBlade RunnerandAkira,as well as giving rise to"Bullet Time"style action sequences.
The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
10 Times The Matrix Sequels Tried To Copy The Original Movie
The Matrix sequels are full of scenes and lines of dialogue borrowed from the original movie to remind fans why they enjoyed it so much.
The influence ofThe Matrixcan also be seen in movies that play with the idea of a false reality,includingInception.The Matrixis responsible for the X-Men costumesin Fox’s earliestX-Menmovies, creating some division concerning whether they should have been true to the comics. Any sequence of a deadpan, unshakable hero walking calmly into battle can arguably be attributed toThe Matrix. Sci-fi movies like this are all linked to one another and spawn many knock-offs and more artistic homages, making it impossible to tell where their influence ends and begins.
